Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	according_a	law_n	write_v	1,034	5	6.0174	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65980	Antichrist's strongest hold overturned, or, The foundation of the religion of the people called Quakers bared and razed in a debate had with some of them in the castle at Lancaster and in an additional account of the light within ..., here also is shewed the occasion of their rise and growth, together with the right way of discovering their secret delusions ..., hereunto is annexed an appendix wherein their evil language is discovered ... / all which is published ... by J.W.	Wigan, John.	1651 (1651)	Wing W2096; ESTC R30213	71,934	77

searching all the inward parts of the Bedy That is Whatsoever is most secret in our minds for as in the Belly natural conceptions are wrought and shaped so in the Mind Moral Conceptions of good or evil are wrought and shaped To this also agrees the saying of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 11. What man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man whech is in him That is No other man knows what his own thoughts are or what they are working but his own understanding This Spirit of a man sees all the inward motions and outward actions of a man with a direct act of the understanding which is called Science and this simply considered makes not any thing that is discovered good or evil And this is the first use of the Light that is in every man viz. To make manifest the things of a man to himself Secondly This Light in every man is useful for direction in a double respect 1. As it looks upon the Law written in his heart it presents unto him the principles of Justice Righteousness Equity Soberness and other Moral Vertues and shews him what is right to be done according to that of the Apostle Rom. 2. 14. For when the Gentiles that is unconverted Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law that is formally published and preached unto them are a Law unto themselves Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their Conciences also bearing witness c. 2. As it looks upon the works of the Creation which are seen such clear beams of the God-head may be understood by the things that are made as might direct and induce man to glorifie God as God which the same Apostle Rom. 1. 18 19. makes the ground of the Righteousnesse of God in that dreadful Revelation of his Wrath against all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men who ever they be who hold the Truth in unrighteousnesse Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them or to them But how or where hath God manifested this to them The Apostle answers in the next words Verse 20. For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and God-head so that they are without excuse So that though every man have not a Light in him that is able to save him as will be further cleared hereafter yet he hath so much as will make him guilty and leave him without excuse Thirdly the light in every man is useful for conviction for though as was said before when it looks upon the things of a man with a direct act it makes nothing good or evil yet when it reflects upon the Law within which shall be the Rule of every motion and operation and compares the Action done with that Law the goodness or evilness of it is discovered according as it bears conformitie or non-conformitie thereunto and now Science or a bare knowing of an Action done is become Conscience for this reflex Act of the soul is called Conscience that is a knowing together with something else as when the understanding considers what is done in conjunction with a Law according to which it ought to be done thus the Spirit of a man which is the Candle of the Lord doth manifest the deed done and the Law discovers the quallitie of the Action according to that of the Apostle Rom. 3. 20. By the Law is the knowledg of sin were there not a Law there would be no Transgression and were not the Law looked upon and the Action compared with it there would be no such thing as Conscience but when deeds are laid before the Law as a Glasse shews not only the face but the spots that are in it so it will give a true report of their regularitie or irregularitie of their goodness or badness and suitable thereto will its Sentence be and Answerable to the Sentence the Law pronounceth will be the excusations or accusations of the person according to Rom. 2. 15. Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their Consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts mean while excusing or accusing one another Hence I say it comes to passe that when a man a meer natural man refuseth to follow this light of direction in doing what is right he is convinced in himself that he guiltie his Conscience troubleth him and judgeth him and is a Witnesse for the Lord that he is righteous when he judgeth according to that saying of the Apostle Rom. 3. 19. Now we know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guiltie before God or be subject to the judgment of God not having a word to object why Sentence should not be executed because they have Transgressed This light was that which manifested to Adam his Transgression convinced him of his guilt tormented him with fear and made him hide himself from the presence of the Lord Gen. 3. 10. I heard thy voice in the Garden and was afraid because I was naked and I hid my self and as it was then so it hath been ever since and will be still that if any man transgresse that Rule and Law that is written in the heart of every natural man there is a light set up in his conscience which will accuse him be a witness against him torment him and condemn him according to that testimonie before mentioned Rom. 2. 15. and 1 Joh. 3. 20. this manifested to Judas his sin and caused him to bring again the money and confess he had sinned And more then this is not needful by way of Answer to H. W. or any other person demanding where that witness is that doth condemn and what that was which caused Judas to bring again the money and to confess that he had sinned in that he had betrayed the innocent blood Fourthly there is yet a further use of this light common to all men it doth not only make manifest direct and convince but is able also to know much of God as a Creator and Law giver at least his eternal power and Godhead by the works of the Creation which are seen Rom. 1. 19 20. and to feel and seek after him as such Acts 17. 27 28. That they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him and find him though he be not farr from every one of us for in him we live move and have our being c. Thus for the light in all men or common to all men good and bad believers and Infidels may go serve for the fore mentioned excellent uses even since by trasgression man fell from his created integritie the sum whereof is briefly this Every man hath a light springing up with

him in his natural birth whereby he is enbabled to see himself quite thorow and to know all his own inward motions and outward actions and to look upon things that are made without and upon a Law of works within written in his heart and thereby we know something of his Creator and of his own dutie what is right to be done ●●d not only so but by reflecting upon that Law he may see the regularitie or inregularitie of his own actions and according to their conformitie or non-conformitie thereto may have peace a legal peace or trouble in his conscience and this it may do where Christ as the way the truth and the life is not so much heard of thus it was with Adam the light and Law within him first convinceth him of sin troubles and torments him so that he runs to hide himself from the presence of God Gen. 3. 10. I was afraid and hid my self before the promise of grace was held forth in the seed of the woman ver 15. And thus having declared how much is to be acknowledged concerning the light within common to all men whereby it evidently appears to be a great an excellent and in many respects a very necessarie light I proceed to speak of the second branch namely What the remaining Light in every man cannot do But first by the way it ought to be remembred that the light whereof we speak whether we respect the Candle-Light of mans spirit or the Light of the Law written in his heart is a natural Light that is a Light that is in the nature of all men for though it be true that if this Light be considered abstractly and apart or with respect to its Author and efficient cause the Father of Lights and Spirits it is Spiritual in which sence not only the Law as the Apostle speaks Rom. 7. 14. but all Light whatsoever may be called Spiritual yet when this Light is considered as united to its subject and by the Law of Creation according to the good pleasure of the Creator put into the nature of man for the enabling him as a man to perform that obedience which God requires of him for his own glory thus it is a natural Light or a Light flowing from the principles of nature without which as was said before there could not be a man so that as there is a natural man 1 Cor. 2. 14. a natural mind a natural understanding a natural conscience so is there a natural Light in man This is evident from the Apostles words Rom. 2. 14. For when the Gentiles that is unconverted Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law to themselves Mark here they do the things contained in the Law but how the Apostle answers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by nature that is by the Light of nature or by natural internal Light there being no other inward guide but Light so when the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 11. 14. Doth not nature it self teach c. It must be understood of inward Light which is natural and it remains that I shew what this Light cannot do Notwithstanding this Light of nature remaining in man since the fall be an excellent Light and very useful as hath been said yet in several respects it is ●o deficient and useless even in those things that concern his everlasting happiness that unless the help of a greater Light be given in for his reliefe he will perish everlastingly For first it is utterly unable to bring any man to life that doth most exactly obey and follow it its true the Law which is a Light in a natural mans heart was ordained to life that is to be a Rule which if man had obeyed he should have had life as a just and equal reward of his obedience according to that of the Apostle Rom. 7. 10. The Commandment which was ordained to life c. and Rom. 4 4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace but of debt And this was the tenor of the Law Do and live as the Scripture testifies Rom. 10. 5. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Law that the man which doth those things shall live by them But when sin entred into the world by Adam and death by sin and so passed upon all men for that all have sinned in him according to Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whom all have sinned Now I say Adam is driven out of Paradice and a flaming sword that turns every way guards the way of the Tree of Life that neither he nor any of his posterity over whom the death reigned though they had not sinned after the similitude of Adam● transgression Rom. 5. 14. could enter into the Life by the Gate of doing or working as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 3. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for now all being under sin Rom. 3. 9. and subject to the judgement of God Rom. 3. 19. the Law can only make known the transgression to the sinner Rom. 3. 20. for by the Law is the knowledge of sin but cannot offer the least help grace mercy compassion or life it wounds him and leaves him but pours in neither oyle nor wine that 's the work of Jesus Christ the good Samaritan by whom comes grace and truth John 1. 17. it knows nothing but pure Justice can speak nothing but wrath and the curse to the offender according to that Rom. 4. 15. Because the Law worketh wrath Gal. 3. 10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them Nay though Adam after the first transgression had turned or any of his posterity should turn to the Candle-light of their own spirit within them and by the help thereof to the Light of the Law written in their hearts and should most exactly obey it as their Rule and never offend it more which neverthelesels since the fall it is imposble for any man to do yet so weak is the Law that it could not give them life as the holy Spirit testifieth Gal. 3 21. If there had been a Law given which could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the Law And Gal. 2. 21. If righteousness come by the Law then is Christ dead in vain I say such is the weakness of the Law that it cannot give life not in respect of it self for it is holy just and good Rom. 7. 12. and able to give life to the doers of it but in respect of its subjects who through the weakness of the flesh cannot fulfil it Rom. 8. 3. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through